Archive for the 'sponges' Category

Technique is everything when it comes to creating a camera-ready, flawless look. So imagine all the prettifying possibilities you’d score if a makeup artist’s skills were wrapped up in one innovative tool. Meet your new makeup must-have: beautyblender® —the makeup sponge designed to create absolute complexion perfection. This award-winning, hot pink number gives you amazing coverage and blending capabilities with its easy-to-use shape and suede-like texture. Use the wide end to blot on makeup and blend effortlessly. Or, work with the pointed end for hard-to-reach spots or delicate areas around the eyes. There’s no foundation line or eyeshadow crease that can hide from the beautyblender sponge’s super-blending powers. Get ready to absorb the benefits.

As many of you know, the sweet Vanessa of Van’s Makeup Ride sent me a Beautyblender set (which I’d mentioned wanting HERE) a month or so back, and I’ve really been enjoying getting to know the ins and outs of this bouncy pink egg over the ensuing weeks.

Close-Up of the Beautyblender so you can see the texture.

When dry, the BeautyBlender is a firm, compact, egg-shaped sponge that doesn’t seem to be all that extraordinary, making you wonder if perhaps this isn’t better suited as a child’s Easter toy than as a makeup applicator, but submerge it under some running water and let it plump up and you’re in for a surprise.

BeautyBlender dry

Using Your BeautyBlender: Once you’ve thoroughly soaked the BeautyBlender, then squeezed out the excess water, you’re left with a pink sponge that’s easily twice its original size and that has some serious bounce to it. Now don’t get carried away playing with the sponge–you have some makeup to apply! I like to squirt a little foundation onto the back of my hand, dab the pointy end of the BeautyBlender in it, and begin bouncing away. In a matter of seconds you’ll be left with a sheer veil of foundation that imparts a flawless, airbrushed finish. Just use the narrow end to reach those hard to reach spots, and use the rounder end to quickly cover larger areas.

BeautyBlender wet

What I Love: The BeautyBlender is amazing for flawlessly applying your foundation of choice–it will never look cakey or heavy, and your complexion will look like actual “skin,” only better–and isn’t that the point of foundation? So many products currently on the market promise an airbrushed finish, but this is one that actually delivers. I will say that the finish isn’t nearly as flawless or airbrushed looking as what I get using my SK-II Air-Touch foundation, but it’s great nonetheless.

Skin post-foundation application using BeautyBlender.

Not So Much: There’s a lot to love about the amazing simplicity that’s the BeautyBlender, but as with every product, it does have its detriments. The main one for me is the price~a single BeautyBlender, which according to the company should be discarded after 3 months, runs $19.95, meaning approximately $80 per year. Now for well under $80 you could purchase one pretty amazing foundation brush that would probably last you for years on end.

In addition to the price of the sponge itself, there’s the price of the BeautyBlender BlenderCleanser, which is an additional $17.95. It does a thorough yet gentle job of cleaning your sponge, but that’s one expensive cleanser for a glorified piece of sponge/foam!

While I can look past the price as I’ve been known to indulge in overpriced products every now and then, my two major frustrations are the major production it is for me to clean the BeautyBlender, and the ridiculously long time that it takes to try. The sponge takes a full 24 hours to dry (at least in my house), and therefore it’s often not dry the next time I want to use it–booo! Also, thanks to my vigorous cleanings I noticed that after 3 uses or so small tears had already developed in the sponge, a disappointing development considering the cost of the product.

Would I Repurchase? I’m not sure. I currently have Sephora credit so I’m seriously contemplating the 2 BeautyBlender set (a relative bargain at $25.95, especially compared to the price of one!), but the time it takes to clean the sponge after each and every use, plus the drying time are making me second guess the impulse.